Foreign intelligence chief Ivashchenko to replace Budanov at Main Intelligence Directorate

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced this.

"Starting today, Oleh Ivashchenko will continue to serve our state and carry out tasks to limit Russian military potential in the position of Ukraine's military intelligence," he declared.

Zelenskyy also held a meeting with Ivashchenko, who reported on the overall situation around our state and current threats.

"We continue to focus on reducing Russia's economic potential: the less the aggressor earns, the more opportunities there will be for diplomacy. This particularly concerns Russian oil exports, which will be restricted and become cheaper," the president wrote.

What preceded this

Ukrainska Pravda, citing sources, as well as MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak and journalist Yulia Zabelina, wrote about the likely appointment of Ivashchenko as head of the Main Intelligence Directorate.

"An interesting appointment is expected at the Main Intelligence Directorate. According to my information, it's the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, Ivashchenko. Interestingly, there was a lot of information that Budanov would be allowed to choose one of his deputies from the Main Intelligence Directorate for this position. And Ivashchenko was previously considered to be part of Yermak's quota. Now I'm not convinced that's the case," the MP wrote.

• On January 2, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he offered intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov the position of head of the President's Office, and Budanov accepted.